By Mike Morton
Longtime Bryant softball Coach Walter Hausdorf isn’t surprised by the success his team is enjoying this season.
The Owls currently sit tied for second in the PSAL Queens AA-II division with a 9-2 record, trailing only Construction. In the past few seasons, Bryant has struggled to advance past the top teams once the playoffs came around, but Hausdorf believes this is the year his team can finally win the elusive PSAL title.
“We can compete with anybody,” he said. “Whether you play a good game or not, that’s always going to be a factor. If we play as good as we could, I think we can play with anybody.”
The Owls have tested themselves early this season, facing off against multiple top teams in the division. Bryant has beaten top opponents such as Cardozo and Francis Lewis and narrowly lost to Construction 1-0.
Bryant is led by a solid group of upperclassmen, starting with ace Tiffany Zecena. The senior pitcher has struck out 68 batters in 46 innings, allowing only nine runs. She was the losing pitcher in Bryant’s game against Construction, dueling with the Red Hawks’ ace Britney Rodriguez, who is considered to be one of the top pitchers in the city. Zecena matched her pitch for pitch, striking out eight and allowing just one unearned run in the loss.
“I would consider Tiffany right there [with the best pitchers],” Hausdorf said.
In the field, the Owls look to seniors Ashley Torres-Littwin, Sarah Temkin and Anastasia Yankopolous to carry the team. Torres-Littwin and Temkin have played four years for Bryant, while Yankopolous boasts three years of experience. Temkin, a prolific hitter, leads the team with four home runs and 20 RBIs.
“They’ve been through plenty,” Hausdorf said. “They’ve been through playoffs and a lot of tough games, so they know what it takes to make a long run through the playoffs. They’ve played a lot of tough games, and they’ve come through pretty good. It’s what you hope for as a coach to have that kind of experience.”
